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Our 2016 Maryland Day to Serve project brought together 50 parishioners who then worked on a storm water management project to reduce the runoff onto our local waterways. The Governors of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and the Mayor of Washington, D.C. support Day to Serve. This unique event inspires diverse people of this wide Mid-Atlantic region of the United States to put aside their political, religious, and cultural differences to strengthen our collective communities by working together to “feed the hungry and heal the planet.”

This year we will continue the tradition with a number of outdoor projects on Saturday, October 7, starting at 8:30am.

All are welcome to enjoy an intercultural day of gardening, clean-up, community building, and making more friends. Please sign-up in the Parish Office with Brother Chris, or on this link:

RESPONSE FROM U.S. PROVINCIAL MINISTERS TO THE VIOLENCE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA

As followers of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of peace, we, the Franciscans Friars of the United States, join with the many public and religious leaders and fellow citizens who have condemned the recent violence in Charlottesville, Va.

We hold that all forms of racism, white supremacy, neo-Nazism, xenophobia and hatred are wrong. Because we believe that every person is created by God in love, we also hold that disrespect or diminishment of -- or violence against -- anyone offends not only that person, but also the One who created that person.

As Franciscans, we strive to be bridge-builders. To avoid future instances of the tragic violence that tore not only the community of Charlottesville but also the fabric of our nation, we call for a renewed commitment to respectful dialogue by all, whereby our opinions and differences can be shared in constructive and illuminating ways that lead to the possibility of growth and conversion for all. Such dialogue might lead us beyond the overt displays of violence and intolerance into an understanding of the subtler and even unconscious forms of discrimination and intolerance that may still inhabit our hearts as well as our society.

We commit ourselves to the responsibility of respect for and dialogue with all who seem "other" than ourselves. And we pray that all the citizens of our nation will join in striving to attain respect and peace in our communities.

Peace Circles: Practicing Peace in Daily Life will be celebrated on September 28, October 5 & 19 at 7:00 PM in the Notre Dame Conference Room. Facilitated by MJ & Jerry Park of Little Friends for Peace. All adults are welcome. To register or further information, contact Br. Chris or parish office.

Domestic Violence Training in Spanish will be offered on Saturday mornings. There will be an initial orientation and training session on Tuesday, September 26 from 7PM to 9PM in the Francis Room. Participants ought to bring their calendars. For questions & registration: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
, parish office, or Brother Chris.